Expression of von Hippel Lindau (pVHL) protein in placentae from normal pregnant women and women with preeclampsia

The hypoxia inducible transcription factors, HIF-1 alpha and -2 alpha, proteins, are over-expressed in placentae from women with preeclampsia (Biol Reprod 2001;64:499-506; Biol Reprod 2001;64:1019-1020). Normally, these proteins are regulated in an oxygen-dependent manner being rapidly degraded by the ubiquitin-mediated proteasomal pathway. Recent Studies have shown that the tumor suppressor protein, von Hippel Lindau (VHL), targets HIF for Libiquitinylation under nonhypoxic conditions. The objectives of the present work were: (1) to investigate VHL protein expression in normal pregnant (NP), preeclamptic (PL), and preterm (without PE) placentae, (2) to test whether VHL protein is hypoxia inducible in term and first trimester placental villous explants, and (3) to analyze the ontogeny of VHL protein expression in the human placenta. To begin evaluating the potential contribution of VHL to HIF overexpression in preeclamptic placentae, we analyzed the levels of the VHL protein in both normal and preeclamptic placentae (n = 7 each). We hypothesized a deficiency of VHL protein in preeclamptic placentae. Eight biopsy sites were tested in each placenta and protein extracts were made. Western analysis was performed using VHL specific antibodies. Human renal adenocarcinoma (ACHN) cell extracts and extracts from COS-7 cells transfected with a VHL expression vector were used as positive controls. In a total of 112 biopsy sites that were analyzed (56 each for normal and preeclamptic placentae), the composite densitometry ratios (PE/NP) for the long (28 kDa) and short (19 kDa) forms of VHL were 1.09 +/- 0.2 and 1.16 +/- 0.11, respectively (both p = NS vs 1.0). A ratio of 1.0 indicates equal expression by preeclamptic and normal placentae. The same placentae exhibited composite densitometry (PE/NP) ratios of 1.97 +/- 0.23 and 1.68 +/- 0.20 for HIF-1 alpha and -2 alpha proteins, respectively (both p < 0.05 vs 1.0). In a separate analysis, the protein expression of the short form of VHL was also comparable among NP, PE and preterm (11 = 6) placentae. VHL immunoreactivity was localized to cells within the basal plate and the syncytiotrophoblast. Despite induction of HIF proteins by hypoxia in first and term villous explants, there was no significant upregulation of VHL proteins. Finally the expression of both the short and long forms of VHL protein decreased with gestational age (both p < 0.05 by ANOVA), and in villous tissue from first trimester placentae VHL immunoreactivity was predominantly localized to the cytotrophoblast. These results suggest that (1) deficiency of VHL protein does not account for HIF-alpha overexpression in preeclamptic placentae, (2) VHL protein is not regulated by hypoxia in either first trimester or term placental villous explants, and (3) VHL protein expression in the placenta decreases as a function of gestational age.